Prompt:
If we are afraid to reveal our lack of knowledge we will not be able to learn. In order to make progress we must admit where we are now. Such an admission of ignorance is not easy. As Thoreau says, “How can we remember our ignorance which our growth requires, when we are using our knowledge all the time?”

Assignment:
Does the present system of education encourage us to admit our lack of knowledge, or is there too much pressure to demonstrate the acquisition of knowledge? Plan your response, and then write an essay...

In my context, current education system has placed a substantial restriction on students in obtaining knowledge that they are short of. Due to the stiff competition and also high shear of stress level, the students nowadays do not really enjoy schooling. Absorbing textbook knowledge has turned out to be part of forceful work, and literally they mugged through the books just to make sure they score in the examinations, which then grants them a chance for university entrance. This is upsetting as the education has turned out to be a torturous toil, instead of a happy learning journey that make students realized the grand of knowledge.

First of all, it is notable that the education system does not allow flexibility in exposing students to really study what they are interested in. Based on a statistical report done in Singapore, most of the students do not enjoy what they are studying. This simply indicates that the students just study for the sake of studying, as they believe good grades or high qualifications are the only means for them to have a promising future. Instead of serving as a learning ground, the school has turned out to be a place in port-folioing their “secret weapons” in grabbing a job in the future. The scripts and certificates have become so crucial and critical in securing the student a high-paying job in renowned company.

Besides that, due to expectations of the society, it is understood that the teachers are under great pressure from the top management as well. In order to maintain the high passing rates in the school every year, the teacher has become soporific machine in educating students. There is no longer an interaction between teacher and student to explore the new knowledge anymore, but rather, a spoon-feeding system is implemented. Instead of looking an answer on their own effort, the students nowadays are given standard answers by their teacher. Unquestionably, the “standard answer” system has subliminally scripted off the student’s creativity and innovations through the learning journey. In a way, due to the direct spoon feeding system, the students lose their possible joys and spirits in discovering knowledge that they are unaware of.

In a nutshell, it is sad to say that the present system has failed to really make the student exploring through the wealth of knowledge, but turns out to be a materialistic tool in exchanging for a high salary in the future. Its lack of flexibility has restricted the students’ potential in discovering new knowledge, but makes them become slaves of examinations. In a simpler term, the education system implemented today has lost the real meaning of education, where students are expected to be joyful in learning what are new to them.